Apparatus for producing electric discharges.



H. PAULING. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC DISGHARGES.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO.18, 1905.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

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Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

' Application December 18, 1905. Serial 110. 292,285. I

To all whom 'it'ma'y concerm' Be it known that I, HARRY PAULING, mining engineer, a subject of'the German Emperor, and resident of 84-Wilhelmstrasse, in Gelsenkirchen, in the Kingdom of'Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Electric Discharges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the production of electric discharges between stationary electrodes Whose points are placed at such a large distance apart that self-ignition is impossible, and it consists, in substance, in successively passing a conductor of elec-- tricity through the space between the electrodes, which for a certain space of time enables. the energy supplied to such electrodes to jump the space between their points, when this connection is again broken by the conductor leaving the space between the electrodes. The invention will be useful, for example, inconnection with the application of such discharges to the treatment of air or analogous gaseous mixtures, such as has been proposed for producing nitric acid therefrom. lVith regard to processes of this nature it has beenfound desirable to produce the electrical discharges by as low a current strength as possible, because currents of high strength tend to eifect shortcircuiting between the electrodes. Further, it has been ascertained by experiment that arcs of great lengths are most adapted for the purpose of these processes. Arcs of great lengths, however, necessitate a correspondingly large distance apart of the points of theelectrodes, and hence the use of currents of a low strength was impossible.

This invention, however, enables the'use of.

a comparatively low current strength while permitting of a comparatively large distance of the electrodes, so as to avoid short-circuits and at the, same time enable the production of arcs of great lengths. For the better comprehension of the invention a practical application thereof to the treatment of a gaseous mixture of this kind will be 'describedhereafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 isadiagrammatical view of an apparatus according to this invention,.and

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in' both figures.

a, b are-the stationary electrodes, and c is 1 a revoluble disk which carries a number of. conductors (l on its circumference. The conductors d are made 'as studs or pins projecting from the disk 0, and the length of them is so calculated that they pass through the space between the electrodes as the disk is setin motion.

e f are blast pipes arranged to blow each astrong current of the gaseous mixture Fig. 2 is alike view of a slight modification.

which is to undergo the action of the discharges, through the space between the electrodes. r

The current supplied to the electrodes is notable to jump the space between them,

, except when any one of the conductors d is between them. lVith the position of the electrodes shown in Fig. 1 the discharges, owing to the action of the current of gas blown through between the electrodes, are caused to assume the shape of elongated arcs such as shown in dotted lines. These arcs after having attained a definite length break and extinguish. The electrodes a, b

.may also be disposed as indicated in Fig. 2.

In this case the discharges are forming arcs which propagate along the electrodes, as shown in dotted lines. The length of the arcs thus formed will be greater than in the former case." The number of the discharges produced depends upon the rate at which the disk 0 is moved, and it will beseen that by means of the apparatus described any desired or possible number of discharges may be obtained in a certain space of time.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of the apparatus illus-- trated may be made ineffecting this new process, without departing from the nature or sacrificing any advantages thereof.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for producing electric discharges having in combination stationary electrodes with a distance between them large enough to prevent ignition, a conductor successively passing end thereby alter- In witness whereofI have hereunto signed nately. increaslng and decreasing the (115- nay name this seventh day of August 1905, tance between the said electrodes and blast in the presence of two subscribin witnesses. 1o

Bipes adapted to extinguish the discharges HARRY PA LING. 5 efore short-circuiting between the elec- Witnesses; a trodes may occur, substantially as described WOLDEMAR Ham,

and for the purpose set forth. MAX Tonms. 

